Hybrid internal combustion/steam engine
Patent 5191766 Issued on March 9, 1993. Estimated Expiration Date: 
June 10, 2011. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
June 10, 2011. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesInventorApplicationNo. 712569 filed on 06/10/1991US Classes:60/619, Having means to add a diverse fluid to combustion products180/301, Including traction motor of turbine type driven by fluid product of combustion180/304With means to condense gas discharged from motorExaminersPrimary: Koczo, MichaelAttorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassesF02G 003/02F02G 005/02 B60K 003/04 B60K 006/12 ClaimsWhat I claim is: 1. A hybrid internal combustion/steam engine having a plurality of cylinders with pistons therein connected to a crankshaft, comprising in combination therewith: (a) means for introducing a combustible fuel/air mixture into each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders for combustion to provide a power stroke for the piston; (b) a plurality of exhaust ports each connected to and in communication with a cylinder of said plurality of cylinders, such that exhaust combustion gases are discharged through selected ones of said plurality of exhaust ports during an exhaust stroke of said piston; (c) a steam generator connected to and in communication with each exhaust port having a water injection port therein proximal the exhaust port of each cylinder; (d) means for selectively injecting a predetermined volume of water proximal the exhaust port of selected cylinders concurrently with the end of the exhaust stroke and the end of the compression stroke of pistons associated with said selected cylinders such that the volume of water contacts the exhausted combustion gases and is substantially vaporized into a pressurized volume of steam within said steam generator; (e) means for allowing exhaust combustion gases into said steam generator from said exhaust port of said cylinder and means to prevent steam generated in said steam generator from reentering said cylinder; and (f) a pressurized steam powered take off means connected to and in communication with said steam generator for converting said exhaust combustion gases into a usable power source. 2. An internal combustion/steam engine as defined in claim 1 wherein said power take-off means includes a steam turbine mounted to the engine crankshaft to augment the rotational motion thereof. 3. An internal combustion/steam engine as defined in claim 1 wherein said engine is a drive unit for a vehicle having a manually selectable gear box, at least two drive wheels and a steering column, said power take-off means comprising: (a) a compression tank connected to and in communication with said steam generator for receiving said pressurized column of steam therefrom for storage, wherein said steam is selectively released from said compression tank at superatmospheric pressures and introduced into selected steam turbines connected to said drive wheels for augmenting the rotation thereof; (b) means for selectively controlling the flow of pressurized steam from said compression tank in accordance with the selected operation of said gear box; and (c) means for selectively governing the rotational speed of each said drive wheel responsive to the arcuate path traveled thereby. 4. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 3 wherein said rotational speed governing means comprises: (a) a volume control valve mounted intermediate each steam turbine and the compression tank; and (b) means for actuating said volume control valve in accordance with the degree of rotation of said steering column. 5. An engine as defined in claim 4 wherein said engine further includes a means in electrical communication with said actuating means for continuously monitoring the rotational speed for each drive wheel to control the actuating means. 6. A combustion engine as defined in claim 1 wherein said water injecting means comprises a water injector pump having a number of outlets connected to said water injection ports in the steam generator. 7. A hybrid internal combustion/steam engine having a plurality of cylinders with pistons therein connected to a crankshaft, comprising in combination therewith: (a) means for introducing a combustible fuel/air mixture into each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders for combustion to provide a power stroke for the piston; (b) a plurality f exhaust ports each connected to and in communication with a cylinder of said plurality of cylinders, such that exhaust combustion gases are discharged through selected ones of said plurality of exhaust ports during an exhaust stroke of said piston; (c) a steam generator connected to and in communication with each exhaust port having a water injection port therein proximal the exhaust port of each cylinder; (d) means for selectively injecting a predetermined volume of water proximal the exhaust port of selected cylinders concurrently with the end of the exhaust stroke and the end of the compression stroke of pistons associated with said selected cylinders such that the volume of water contacts the exhausted combustion gases and is substantially vaporized into a pressurized volume of steam within said generator; (e) a first pressure activated one-way valve mounted within the cylinder exhaust port operable to open when combustion gases are exhausted from said cylinder and operable to close when steam is subsequently generated in said steam generator; (f) a second pressure activated one-way valve mounted in each water injection port operable to open due to pressure from the predetermined volume of water in the line and operable to close upon subsequent generation of steam in said steam generator; and (g) a pressurized steam power take-off means connected to and in communication with said steam generator for converting said exhausted combustion gases into a usable power source. 8. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 7 wherein said power take-off means includes a steam turbine mounted to the engine crankshaft to augment the rotational motion of said crankshaft. 9. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 7 wherein said engine is a drive unit for a vehicle having a manually selectable gear box, at least two drive wheels and a steering column, said power take-off means further comprising: (a) a compression tank connected to and in communication with said steam generator for receiving said exhausted combustion gases therefrom for storage, wherein said gases are selectively released from said compression tank at superatmospheric pressures and introduced into selected steam turbines connected to said drive wheels for augmenting the rotation thereof; (b) means for selectively controlling the flow of pressurized gases from said compression tank, in accordance with the selected operation of said gear box; and (c) means for selectively governing the rotational speed of each said drive wheel responsive to the arcuate path traveled thereby. 10. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 9 wherein said rotational speed governing means comprises: (a) a volume control valve mounted intermediate each gas turbine and said compression tank; and (b) means for selectively actuating said valve in accordance with the degree of rotation of said steering column. 11. An engine as defined in claim 10 wherein said engine further includes means associated with said actuating means for continuously monitoring the rotational speed for each drive wheel to control said actuating means. 12. An engine as defined in claim 1 further including a condenser means in communication with said water injecting means, said steam generator and said power take-off means. 13. A hybrid internal combustion/steam engine having a plurality of cylinders with pistons therein connected to a crankshaft comprising in combination therewith: (a) means for introducing a combustible fuel/air mixture into each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders for combustion to provide a power stroke for the piston; (b) a plurality of exhaust ports each connected to and in communication with a cylinder of said plurality of cylinders, such that exhaust combustion gases are discharged through selected ones of said plurality of exhaust ports during an exhaust stroke of said piston; (c) a steam generator connected to and in communication with each exhaust port having a water injection port therein proximal the exhaust port of each cylinder; (d) means for selectively injecting a predetermined volume of water proximal the exhaust port of selected cylinders concurrently with the end of the exhaust stroke and the end of the compression stroke of pistons associated with said selected cylinders such that the volume of water contacts the exhausted combustion gases and is substantially vaporized into a pressurized volume of steam within said steam generator; (e) a pressurized steam power take-off means connected to and in communication with said steam generator for converting said exhausted combustion gases into a usable power source; and (f) means for selectively diverting the flow of exhaust combustion gases from said power take-off means to a condenser means in accordance with the temperature of water therein. 14. An engine as defined in claim 13 wherein said diverting means include a flow control valve adjacent said steam generator. 15. An engine as defined in claim 13 wherein said condensing means includes a condenser tank having a lower water-storage area into which condensed water from said power take-off means and steam from said steam generator is directed with said lower water-storage area communicating with the water injecting means to supply water thereto, and an upper portion having an exit port for escaping combustion gases. 16. An engine as defined in claim 15 wherein said condenser tank further comprises: (a) two internal baffles vertically mounted within the bottom of the tank dividing the lower water-storage area into a central compartment in communication with said water injecting means and said steam generator, and an exhaust-intake compartment on either side of said central compartment communicating with said power take-off means; and (b) an internal array of heat conducting tubing connected to the steam generator passing through the lower water storage area terminating in the upper air-filled portion of tank to allow the steam to vent through said exit port. 17. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 16 wherein said engine is a drive unit for a vehicle having a manually selectable gear box, at least two drive wheels and a steering column, and said gas driven transmission (a) a compression tank connected to and in communication with said steam generator for receiving exhaust combustion gases therefrom for storage, wherein said gases are released from said tank at superatmospheric pressure and introduced to selected steam turbines connected to said drive wheels; (b) means for selectively controlling the flow of pressurized gases from said compression tank, in accordance with the selected operation of said gear box; and (c) means for selectively governing the rotational speed of each drive wheel in accordance with the arcuate path traveled thereby. 18. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 17 wherein rotational speed regulating means comprises: (a) a volume control valve intermediate each steam turbine and the compression tank; and (b) means for selectively actuating said volume control valve in accordance with the rotation of said steering column. 19. An engine as defined in claim 18 wherein said engine further includes a means associated with said rotational speed governing for continuously monitoring said drive wheel rotational speed. 20. A hybrid internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders with pistons therein connected to a crankshaft comprising: (a) means for introducing a combustible fuel/air mixture into each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders to provide a power stroke for the pistons; (b) an individual exhaust port associated with each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders for the discharge of combustion gases during an exhaust stroke of said piston; (c) a steam generator in communication with the exhaust port of each cylinder having water injection port thereon adjacent said exhaust port of each said cylinder; (d) means for injecting a predetermined volume of water adjacent the exhaust port of each cylinder concurrently with the end of the exhaust stroke and of the compression stroke of each piston such that the volume of water contacting the exhausted combination gases is substantially vaporized to steam forming a pressurized volume of steam within said steam generator; (e) means for allowing exhausted combustion gases into said steam generator from exhaust port of said cylinder and means for preventing steam generated in said steam generator from reentering said cylinder; (f) a pressurized exhaust/steam power take-off means in communication with said steam generator to rotate at least one steam turbine. 21. A combustion engine as defined in claim 20 wherein said water injecting means comprises a water injector pump receiving water from a remote source and having an equal number of orifices as injection ports in said steam generator such that each said orifice is connected to a water injection port in the steam generator. 22. A hybrid internal combustion/steam engine having a plurality of cylinders with pistons therein connected to a crankshaft, comprising in combination therewith: (a) means for introducing a combustible fuel/air mixture into each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders for combustion to provide a power stroke for the piston; (b) a plurality of exhaust ports each connected to and in communication with a cylinder of said plurality of cylinders, such that exhaust combustion gases are discharged through selected ones of said plurality of exhaust ports during an exhaust stroke of said piston; (c) a steam generator connected to and in communication with each exhaust port having a water injection port therein proximal the exhaust port of each cylinder; (d) means for selectively injecting a predetermined volume of water proximal the exhaust port of selected cylinders concurrently with the end of the exhaust stroke and the end of the compression stroke of pistons associated with said selected cylinders such that the volume of water contacts the exhausted combustion gases and is substantially vaporized into a pressurized volume of steam within said steam generator; (e) a pressurized steam power take-off means connected to and in communication with said steam generator for converting said exhausted combustion gases into a usable power source; (f) a first pressure activated one-way valve mounted within the cylinder exhaust port operable to open when combustion gases are exhausted from said cylinder and operable to close as steam is generated in the steam generator; (g) a second pressure activated one-way valve mounted in each water injection port in said steam generator operable to open due to pressure of water from said water pump and operable to close upon subsequent formation of steam in said steam generator; and (h) a water injector pump receiving water from a remote source and having an equal number of orifices as injection ports in said steam generator such that each said orifice is connected to a water injection port in said steam generator. 23. A combustion engine as defined in claim 22 wherein said condensing means includes a condenser tank comprising a tank having a lower water storage area and an upper air-filled portion having an exit port for escaping combustion gases. 24. A combustion engine as defined in claim 23 wherein said condenser tank further comprises: (a) two internal baffles vertically mounted within the bottom of the tank dividing the lower water-storage area into a central compartment and two lateral spent exhaust/steam intake compartments, with said central compartment connected to the water injector pump and the hot exhaust line and each said spent exhaust-intake compartments connected to low pressure tubing from said steam turbine; and (b) an internal array of heat conducting tubing connected to said first conduit means arrayed throughout the lower water storage area to heat the water therein and terminating in the upper air-filled portion of tank allowing the hot exhaust to vent through said exit port. 25. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 22 wherein said power take-off means includes a steam turbine attached to the engine crankshaft to augment the rotational power of said crankshaft. 26. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 22 wherein said engine is a drive unit for a vehicle having a manually selectable gear box, at least two drive wheels, a steering column and said power take-off means further includes: (a) a compression tank connected to and in communication with said steam generator, having a plurality of orifices with each said orifice connected to a pressurized hose that is joined to a wheel steam turbine mounted on each said drive wheel; (b) means for selectively diverting the flow of pressurized exhaust combustion gases exiting the compression tank in accordance with the selected operation of said gear box, through the neutral exhaust conduit to the collection tank means when the gear box selection is neutral and to said steam turbines when the gear box is activated; and (c) means for selectively governing the rotational speed of each said drive wheel in accordance with the turning radius traversed by said drive wheels. 27. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 26 wherein said rotation speed regulating means comprises: (a) a volume control valve mounted proximal each said orifice of the compression tank activated by the rotation of said steering column; and (b) means for selectively actuating said valve in accordance with the degree of rotation of said steering column. 28. An engine as defined in claim 27 wherein said engine further includes a means for continuously monitoring and computing the appropriate drive wheel rotational speed for each drive wheel in electrical communication with said volume regulating means to direct the appropriate adjustment of each said volume control. Other References
Field of SearchHaving means to add a diverse fluid to combustion productsTreated by washing, or having liquid contact structure Including traction motor of turbine type driven by fluid product of combustion Gas is product of treatment of a volatile fluid (e.g., gas is steam) With means to condense gas discharged from motor With means to generate steam for a propulsion purpose |
